A method for placing a first guide wire in a patient is disclosed. The method can include locating a model axis in a model and placing a second guide wire at the model axis, the model axis corresponding to an anatomical axis of an anatomical feature. The method can include coupling a guide plate to the second guide wire and the model. The method can include coupling an axis guide to the guide plate. The method can include decoupling the guide plate and the axis guide as an alignment unit from the second guide wire and coupling the guide plate and the axis guide as an alignment unit to the anatomical feature of the patient. The method can include using the alignment unit to place the first guide wire in the anatomical feature of the patient at the anatomical axis of the anatomical feature.
